Edge strip anchorage means for link rugs



J1me 1933- F. M. WILLIAMS ET AL.

' EDGE STRIP ANCHORAGE MEANS FOR LINK RUGS Filed June 18, 1932 Patented June 2%, 1933 Uiran PATENT FRANGIS M. WILLIAMS AND EARL VI. COBLE, F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS OF TWO- THIBDS TO THE COMMERCE GUARDIAN BANK, OF TOLEDO, 61-110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO, TRUSTEE EDGE STRIP ANCHORAGE Ti BANS FOR LINK BUGS Application filed June 18, 1932. Serial No. 617,994.

This invention relates to floor coverings, and particularly to those of the type comprising a plurality of links, or blocks, connected together by pivot rods.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a novel, simple and improved means for attaching the rod ends of such rugs to edge or border strips provided along the side edges of the rugs which are transverse to the rod axes, whereby to provide a novel and eflicient edge strip anchoring means for such rugs and to simplify and lessen the cost of assembling now employed-for rugs of this character.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for attaching the rod end to the inner edge portions of associated edge strips in a manner to permit adjustment of the rod ends lengthwise of the connected edge strips to prevent buckling of the rug and to facilitate aflat and smooth laying of the same on the floor.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while inits broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in difierent forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary portion, in plan, of a rug or floor covering embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a plurality of rods and connecting members in partially assembled position. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the rug showing portions of a tread link, an anchoring link and a pivot rod in properly assembled relation. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clip member of the anchoring means, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of an edge strip employed in connection with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates each of a plurality of tread blocks or links, preferably, but not necessarily, of rubber, joined together in the form of a rug or floor covering by cross or-pivot rods 2. Anchored to the ends of these rods at each side edge of the rug is an edge strip 3.

The links 1 have apertures in their ends through which the rods 2 are threaded, and are arranged on the rods in staggered alternating relation, as shown, and as well understood in the art. The rods 2 are connected together at their ends in successive pairs, as best shown in Fig. 4, by thin strips or links 4, preferably of stamped sheet metal, the rod ends being inserted through apertures in respective ends of the links and being upset or shouldered at the outer sides of the links, as shown at 5, to prevent withdrawal. The upsetting or shouldering of the rod ends is preferably accomplished by a suitable squeezing tool which effects a flattening of the metal in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the rug, as shown. The pairs of rods connected by the links 4 alternate with those connected by the adjacent paralleling row of tread links 1, which latter has side contact with the links 4, as best shown in Fig. 1.

Each link 4 is anchored to the inner edge of an adjoining edge strip 8 by a clip member 6 of U-shape, which straddles the link intermediate the rods connected thereby with its loop engaging the inner side of the link and with its legs straddling the adjacent portion of the edge strip and suitably attached thereto. In the present instance, the

edge strip 3 has a straight inner edge 7 in fiatwise abutment against the outer sides of the successive links 4 and formed with 2. Iongitudinally extending groove or recess 8 for receiving the projecting flattened ends 5 of the rods 2, and is provided in outwardly spaced relation to its inner edge in the top and bottom surfaces, with spaced longitudinally extending recesses 9 for receiving the inturned ends 10 of the legs of the clips 6. The depth or thickness of the inner edge portion of the strip 3 embraced by the clips 6 is slightly less than the depth of the immediate adjacent tread portion of the edge strip and of the blocks 1, so that the upper and lower sides of the clips 6 will be disposed within the respective surface planes of the tread surfaces of the rug.

It is preferable to provide the loop portion of each clip 6 with a. re-entrant portion 11 forming a ridge at the inner side of the loop,

which ridge extends lengthwise of the loop and is substantially midway between the leg portions of the clip, so as to form a centrally disposed pivot bearing for contact with the inner side of the respective link 4. This facilitates transverse rocking of the clips relative to the engaged links 4, thus permitting a limited flexing or rocking of the edge strips relative to the links 4 and engaged rods 2 so that the edge strips may accommodate themselves to any unevenness of the floor on which disposed.

The clips 6 are of less length than the spaces between adjacent rods 2, thus permitting the clips to have lengthwise adjusting movements on the links 4 and preventing any tendency of buckling of an edge strip or of the rug body when the parts are assembled. During such adjustment of an edge strip withrespect to the body of a rug, the ends of the rods 2 have unrestricted movement lengthwise of the strips in the grooves 8 provided for such purpose.

In attaching an edge strip to a rug body by our anchoring means, the anchoring links 4 are first placed in engagement with successive pairs of rods 2 and the ends of the rods then upset to prevent Withdrawal of the links therefrom. An edge strip 3 is then placed along the respective edge of the rug body with the projecting ends of the rods received in the groove 8 thereof, after which clips 6 in an opened-up form, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, are then successively placed at the inner side of each link 4, and the legs of the clip then bent inwardly in any suitable manner to embrace the inner edge portion of the strip and to cause the turned-in ends 10 of the clip legs to enter the receiving recesses 9 in the edge strip, as shown in Fig. 3.

This provides a simple and efficient means for anchoring an edge strip to the rod ends of a rug member, whereby the edge strip is not only securely held to the rod ends, but is permitted to adjust itself'transversely of the rod ends, so that there will be no buckling of either the edge strip or rug body due to an improper connecting of the two. It is also found in practice that this anchoring means may be more quickly and cheaply applied to an edge strip than is possible with the anchoring means heretofore employed in similar connections.

We wish it understood that our invention is not limited to any specific form, constructi on or arrangement of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a link-type rug having cross rods and an edge strip transverse to the rods, of means anchoring the edge strip to the adjacent ends of the rods, including clip members connected to the rod ends and to the strip.

2. The combination with a link-type rug having cross rods and an edge strip transverse to the rods, of means anchoring the edge strip to the adjacent ends of the rods, including clip members connected to the rod ends and to the strip and adjustable transversely of the rods.

3. The combination with a link-type rug having cross rods and an edge strip transverse to the rods, of means anchoring the edge strip to the adjacent ends of the rods, including clip members connected to the rod ends and to the strip and rockingly adjustable transversely of the strip.

4. The combination with a link-type rug having cross rods and an edge strip transverse to the rods, of means anchoring the edge strip to the adjacent ends of the rods, including links connecting the rod ends in pairs and clip members connecting the links and strip.

5. The combination with a link-type rug having cross rods and an edge strip transverse to the rods, of means anchoring the edge strip to the adjacent ends of the rods, including links connecting the rod ends in pairs and clip members connecting the links and strip for transverse rocking and longitudinal sliding movements relative to the links.

6. The combination with a link-type rug having cross rods and an edge strip trans verse to the rods, of means anchoring the edge strip to the rods, including a link member connecting a pair of rods at their adjacent ends in transversely spaced relation, and a clip looped around the link intermediate the rods and having anchoring engagement with the strip edge.

7. The combination with a link-type rug having cross rods and an edge strip transverse to the rods, of means anchoring the edge strip to the rods, including a link member connecting a pair of rods at their adjacent ends in transversely spaced relation, and a clip looped around the link intermediate the rods and having anchoring engagement with the strip edge, the clip being freely movable lengthwise of the link.

8. The combination with the cross rods of an article of the class described, of a link member connecting certain of the rods at adjacent ends and holding the rods in transversely spaced relation, an edge strip extending transversely of the rods and having opposed surface recesses therein, and a clip straddling said link with its looped portion engaging the inner side of the link and with its legs straddling the inner edge of said strip and interengaging with said recesses.

9. The combination with the cross rods of an article of the class described, of a link connecting the adjacent ends of certain of said rods to retain them in transversely spaced relation with the rod ends projecting outside the links, an edge strip having its inner edge surface abutting against the outer side of the link and provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the projected ends of the rods, and a clip member straddling said link with its loop in anchoring engagement with the inner side of the link and with its legs straddling the inner edge portion of the edge strip and in holding engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names to this specification.

FRANCIS M. WILLIAMS. EARL W. COBLE. 

